System and method for applying an additive to a material stream

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for applying liquid feed additives to a feed composition. In one embodiment, the system has a spray housing defining a spray chamber located adjacent a mix housing carrying a material composition. The mix housing defines a mix chamber, which contains an actuating device, such as an auger, that moves the material stream through the mix chamber. The mix chamber and spray chamber are in fluid communication. A spray nozzle is coupled to the spray housing and in fluid communication with an air source and liquid additive tank. The spray nozzle sprays a fog of air and liquid additive through the spray chamber and into the mix chamber, which gets deposited on the passing feed stream.

1. A system for processing a stream of livestock feed, the system comprising:
 a pump operatively connected to an additive tank and in fluid communication with a spray nozzle to move liquid additive from the additive tank to the spray nozzle; 
 a mix housing defining a mix chamber and a mix chamber opening, the mix chamber opening providing access to the interior of the mix chamber, the mix housing comprising a first end, a midsection, and a second end; 
 an actuating device disposed within the mix chamber, the actuating device configured to move the stream of livestock feed from the first end to the second end of the mix housing; 
 a spray housing defining a spray chamber and a spray chamber opening, the spray housing coupled to the mix housing between a midsection of the mix housing and a first end of the mix housing, the spray chamber in fluid communication with the mix chamber through the mix chamber opening and the spray chamber opening; 
 the spray nozzle configured to spray a fog of liquid additive into the spray chamber, which passes through the spray chamber opening and the mix chamber opening into the mix chamber and deposits onto the stream of livestock feed as it passes through the mix chamber; 
 a steam chest comprising a steam chest housing, the steam chest housing in fluid communication with the mix housing; and 
 a steam chest thermometer configured to measure the temperature within the steam chest housing. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , the steam chest housing in fluid communication with the second end of the mix housing. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 1 , the steam chest configured to maintain a temperature of between about 150 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit within the steam chest housing. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, the control unit configured to regulate the amount of additive that the pump moves to the spray nozzle. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 4 , the control unit configured to adjust the speed of the actuating device. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 4 , the control unit comprising a computer. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 6 , the computer configured to monitor, record, and display system parameters selected from the group consisting of flow rates and temperatures. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 7 , the computer connected to a remote workstation, the workstation configured to display system parameters in real time. 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is arranged to produce a spray of a mixture of the liquid additive and air to substantially cover the stream of livestock feed with the liquid additive. 
   
   
     10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating device is an auger. 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 1 , the spray nozzle configured to spray a fog of air and liquid additive into the spray chamber, the fog comprising droplets with a diameter of about 1 to 100 microns. 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray housing is located sufficiently close to the first end of the mix housing to allow the liquid additive to be uniformly distributed onto the stream of livestock feed. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air source in fluid communication with the spray nozzle. 
   
   
     14. A system for processing a stream of livestock feed, the system comprising:
 a pump operatively connected to an additive tank and in fluid communication with a spray nozzle to move liquid additive from the additive tank to the spray nozzle; 
 a mix housing defining a mix chamber and a mix chamber opening, the mix chamber opening providing access to the interior of the mix chamber, the mix housing comprising a first end, a midsection, and a second end, the mix housing coupled to a mix truck; 
 an actuating device disposed within the mix chamber, the actuating device arranged to move the stream of livestock feed from the first end to the second end of the mix housing; 
 a spray housing defining a spray chamber and a spray chamber opening, the spray housing configured to be positioned over the mix housing, the spray housing detached from the mix truck, the spray chamber in fluid communication with the mix chamber through the mix chamber opening and the spray chamber opening; and 
 the spray nozzle configured to spray a fog of liquid additive into the spray chamber, which passes through the spray chamber opening and the mix chamber opening into the mix chamber and deposits onto the stream of livestock feed as it passes through the mix chamber. 
 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a control unit, the control unit configured to regulate the amount of additive that the pump moves to the spray nozzle. 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 15 , the control unit comprising a computer. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuating device is an auger. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 14 , the say nozzle configured to spray a fog of air and liquid additive into the spray chamber, the fog comprising droplets with a diameter of about 1 to 100 microns.